Walking/biking project in Pottstown is a winner

More importantly, it has a potential to improve the health of the community by inspiring exercise, making streets safer and the air cleaner, and creating the kind of positive statement that helps market the town and boost the economy.

That’s a lot of winning appeal for one project.

The project involves a $1 million grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to improve walking and biking opportunities within the borough by creating six miles of new bike lanes and improving sidewalks.

The $1 million award is complimented by a local match of $582,000 from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation and $225,000 from a federal Safe Routes to School grant. In addition, the borough has made a $300,000 request to PennDOT for sidewalk improvements along the routes outlined in the project.

Although the funding does not call for any road re-paving, the borough intends to adjust its paving plans, bolstered by the recent infusion of more than $60,000 in additional liquid fuels money from the state, to coordinate with the bike lane and sidewalk projects.

The project got its start with a study funded by the local nonprofit, Save Our Land/Save Our Towns, and was then spearheaded through a partnership between the school district and the borough. Assistant Borough Manager Erica Weekley shepherded the proposal through the grants process.

The result is $2.1 million in improvements to borough streets and sidewalks.

Aside from the focus on exercise and the environment, it’s an infrastructure improvement in a 200-year-old town. That’s not a small thing.

Also significant is the positive marketing potential.

Enhancing the potential for recreation and emphasizing exercise can be focus points for Pottstown as a quality place to live and work.

“We’re building on our strengths,” Weekley said. “We have certain unique assets, the Schuylkill River Trail, bike lanes and a school district that is contiguous to our borough borders and shares our desire to revitalize Pottstown.”

Thus, the project becomes a “step forward on revitalizing Pottstown,” in the words of Pottstown Schools Superintendent Jeff Sparagana.

Perhaps most importantly, the project also demonstrates that groups in town can work together for a common good. The collaboration of the school district, borough hall and several nonprofits is an example of positive work.

“When we collaborate, we accomplish a lot more,” Sparagana said. “We can’t agree on everything, certainly, but it’s our responsibility to look for common ground and see where we can work together.”

Walkable, bikeable Pottstown is a place where others will want to live and work.